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Margaritas and palm trees belong together, so it’s no wonder South Florida is awash in tequila goodness. Clean Plate Charlie takes a look at some of the best margaritas in Broward and Palm Beach. These are finalists in the Best Of issue that will hit the stands in June — as usual, feel free to let us know what we missed.
Canyon Southwest Café
The Day-Glo
pink of Canyon’s Prickly Pear Margarita hints at the Hawaiian Punch flavors
favored by college girls with bad fake IDs, but devotees swear by this
balancing act of a beverage. The subtle sweetness of prickly pear is tempered
by the sour of lime and works in tandem to help the medicine (in this case,
tequila) go down. Women pay $5 for the drink during happy hour, nightly —
except Saturday — until 7 p.m.
Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food
Julio’s signature cocktail is the swirl. The frozen mix of margarita and homemade
sangria, dressed with a festive, pink, plastic flamingo, is the kind of drink
that tourists snap pics of and post to Facebook to make their friends up north
feel insanely jealous. More-traditional boozehounds may want to stick with the
clean taste of the Patrón Classic, a straightforward blend of Patrón Silver,
Citrónge, and fresh lime juice.
Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar
With
an entire menu dedicated to tequila and a dozen signature margaritas on the
drink list — plus the build-your-own option by way of the “flavored margarita”
— it’s easy to get that “kid in a candy shop” feel, assuming the kid is
actually an adult and the candy shop deals in high-end liquor. The Cadillac,
available by the glass or pitcher, is a good place to start: El Mayor Anejo,
Grand Marnier, and Rocco’s house-made sour mix.
The Le Tub Saloon
Come
for the view — and maybe the character, the famous burgers, etc. — and stay
for the margarita on the rocks. Specifically because it’s just so damned easy
to down a couple of them, especially after spending a day baking in the sun on
Hollywood Beach a short walk from Le Tub’s fully stocked bar. Served in a
plastic cup, just the way nature intended.
Dos Caminos
The
Mexican-street-food concept employed at this hotel restaurant calls for a
certain simplicity in ingredients; hence, the namesake cocktail, El Camino
($11), is nothing more than miargo blanco and fresh lime juice. There are other
choices, like the frozen prickly pear ($9) or the Cadillac, which clocks in at
$14. The seasonal margarita ($10), with choices like mango, lychee, strawberry,
or blood orange, can be served frozen or on the rocks.
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